The quiet village of Namawojjolo in Mukono District's Nama Sub-county has become the centre of growing outrage as women and residents raise alarm over persistent harassment along their daily routes. What began as whispered concerns has erupted into a full-blown community crisis, with particular focus on the dangerous journeys faced by female factory workers commuting to Mbalala's industrial area, schoolchildren walking to class, and late-night travellers navigating unlit pathways.
Disturbing accounts have surfaced of shadowy figures lurking in roadside thickets, lying in wait for unsuspecting women and girls along the winding paths of Namawojjolo. Daisy Nabakire Kaye, a prominent voice in the local women's community, describes a chilling pattern of attacks that typically begin after nightfall, when exhausted factory workers make their way home under the cover of darkness. The psychological toll on victims has become unbearable, with many now fearing for their basic safety during what should be routine commutes.
The issue reached a critical juncture during a tense community gathering that drew the attention of the area MP and State Minister for Water Resources, Hon. Ronald Kibuule. Since that initial meeting, the minister has embarked on a fact-finding mission through affected neighbouring area,s including Wanjeyo and Buligobe, hearing firsthand accounts of the dangers women face daily. At these meetings, factory workers have broken their silence about the dual threats they endure - not just on their commutes, but within the workplaces themselves, where safety standards appear nonexistent and injuries go uncompensated.
The testimonies from female industrial workers paint a grim picture of exploitation and neglect. Many describe working environments where basic protective equipment is treated as a luxury rather than a right, leaving them vulnerable to burns and other serious injuries. "We're treated as disposable labour," shared one woman, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and resignation. Their pleas for government intervention highlight a systemic failure to protect some of the community's most vulnerable workers.
Minister Kibuule has proposed a comprehensive response to the crisis, beginning with enhanced security patrols along the most dangerous stretches of road. The plan calls for the strategic installation of solar-powered lighting to eliminate the shadows where predators hide, along with establishing permanent security checkpoints to monitor high-risk areas. Perhaps most significantly, the minister has vowed to address the troubling phenomenon of foreign factory managers fathering children with local women only to abandon their responsibilities.
Beyond immediate security concerns, the minister's visit has sparked promises of wider infrastructure improvements. The community can expect upgrades to water access, electricity coverage, healthcare facilities, road networks, and educational resources, though residents remain cautiously optimistic until shovels hit the ground.
The timing of this renewed focus on community safety coincides with heightened political activity as NRM party aspirants begin courting voters ahead of July's parliamentary primary elections. Development issues and women's safety have unexpectedly become central campaign issues, forcing candidates to take concrete positions on long-neglected problems.
While the proposed measures have been met with cautious approval, many residents maintain a healthy scepticism born of past disappointments. "We've heard promises before," remarked one village elder, his voice carrying the weight of experience. For the women of Namawojjolo, real change will be measured not in press conferences but in safe passage home after dark.
As dusk settles over the village each evening, the question lingers: Will this be the moment when their cries for safety are finally answered, or just another chapter in a long history of neglect? The paths between home and workplace remain fraught with danger, but perhaps now, finally, with the glimmer of hope that someone in power is listening.
